Oasis Bring Hits — And Tears — At First L.A. Show Since 2008

The strongest career move Oasis ever made was breaking up, a decision that gave way to a reunion that flooded Noel and Liam Gallagher with goodwill and recast the band’s decline since their mid-’90s peak in rose-colored light, as the band is now filling stadiums. 

I was there when they broke up backstage in Paris, within feet of the argument that sparked it — yet it was oddly underwhelming. In the 15 years since that fateful night, society, like the Gallaghers, has grown increasingly divided. Seeing Noel and Liam reunite offers a rare, hopeful reminder that perhaps we can bridge our differences, if only to belt out a few classic pub rock anthems together.

A warm Southern California evening set the stage for the first of two sold-out Oasis Live ’25 shows at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, the penultimate North American date of the tour. The stadium’s athletic energy played to Oasis’s advantage, reflecting how they’ve evolved from a band into a unified team.

As legendary photographer Kevin Cummins, who helped shape the band’s image told me earlier in the week about the tour: “It’s like going to a football match where everyone supports the same team.” With merchandise lines as long as the entry gates and fans decked out in Oasis gear, the crowd perfectly matched Cummins’s description.

Liverpool’s Cast, veterans who backed Oasis three decades ago and joined Liam on last year’s Definitely Maybe anniversary tour, were personally chosen by the younger Gallagher for this run. Although they may not be a household name in the U.S., a blistering set of UK Top 20 hits like “Sandstorm,” “Alright,” and “Finetime,” plus the radio-ready “Poison Vine,” ensured Cast left a lasting impression.

Under a rising full moon, Cage the Elephant unleashed a raw, darkly charged set, tearing through “Broken Boy” and “Cigarette Daydreams.” Their blend of Rolling Stones swagger and New York Dolls chaos felt like the final shot, the last line, the kick of adrenaline you needed before the main event. By the time the stadium shimmered with phone lights during “Shake Me Down,” the audience was primed for what came next.

Before either band took the stage, two impeccably crafted commercials lit up the screens. A Dodge Defender spot pulsed to “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” while an Adidas short, set to “Live Forever,” unfolded like a sleek art film, the three stripes subtly woven in. Both landed like action-movie trailers, sending a surge of excitement through the crowd.

The air buzzed with anticipation as six towering screens behind the stage flickered with a mix of classic and contemporary Oasis imagery, Oasis-related news headlines, and fleeting Oasis ephemera. The crowd bounced along to the opener, “Hello,” and belted the chorus of “Acquiesce,” as if daring to outshine the viral UK clips that have dominated the internet in recent months. It’s a strong start.

Liam sounded as if no time had passed since 1995’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?—and the moment he bit down on his tambourine, the entire crowd pointed at him. It took a few songs for Noel to find his comfort zone, but once he did, he owned the stage, all while a cardboard cutout of Manchester City F.C. manager Pep Guardiola kept a mock-serious eye on him from just behind.

Oasis die-hards may bristle at the claim, but the band’s first two albums are their undeniable high point. The two-hour, 23-song setlist made that clear, mining those records and what could have been the group’s third album: the 1998 B-side collection The Masterplan. The rest of the set sprinkled in two tracks from 1997’s Be Here Now, one from 2002’s Heathen Chemistry, and the 1994 standalone single “Whatever.”

It’s the rockers that send the crowd into overdrive, among them “Morning Glory,” “Supersonic,” and “Bring It On Down.” T. Rex’s Marc Bolan would have been proud of his iconic “Bang a Gong” riffs lighting up the stadium during “Cigarettes and Alcohol.” But it’s when Noel takes the mic that the real sing-along magic happens. Mid-set, he transformed into a conductor of emotion with “Talk Tonight,’ the horn- and keys-infused “Half the World Away,” and “Little by Little.” 

The show hit another peak after a mid-set lull, which Liam valiantly tried to shake off with stories, jokes, and playful crowd banter — a side of him more familiar offstage than on. Ultimately, it’s the songs that do the heavy lifting. The band serves as a conduit, and, at times, that can feel static, even in a packed stadium, even with every other element working in their favor. But by the time they reached the perennial “Live Forever,” the band was back in full stride, driving home the pre-encore high with the electrifying punch of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star.”

Noel’s command returned in the encore with the opening pair: “The Masterplan” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” the latter uniting the entire stadium. Noel dedicated the song to a young girl he singled out in the crowd. “She’s been in tears all night this girl — I hope that’s not a review of the fucking gig.” 

That moment captured the essence of the night. Fans of every generation were present, but the evening belonged to those born this century — many of whom cried through song after song. The group behind us had brought cigarettes to sneakily smoke during “Cigarettes and Alcohol.” They screamed “Daddy” every time Noel or Liam spoke. Those of us who spent our 20s with Oasis will always have them to return to, but the band now belongs to a new generation.

The evening ended with the song that started it all, “Wonderwall” and closed with the ultimate prom anthem, “Champagne Supernova,” amid a shower of fireworks and tears. Oasis aren’t calling this their farewell tour, but it might as well be because the bar they’ve set is impossible to top.